Adventure Race

What a great event, It's one of the most enjoyable events I've done for a while. It was about 10k on the run (but reckon it was nearer 8) then 30km on the mountain bike followed by about 3k on the kayak. All done as a team of two and a self navigation event which made it more of an adventure!! Much thanks to Jonathan Jones my team mate who sorted out the bikes and was definitely the navigator!!

Left bright an early this morning 6.20am from the house, it was foggy and overcast at that point. Registered about 8am, got the bikes ready and made a few decisions about kit. In the end decided to just take the water bottle full of lucozade and a cliff shots bar which I ended up not using. Got a bit of a race briefing and the sheet said there was about 60 teams there. We got told on that on the mountain bike stage we had to self navigate and find 4 checkpoints, grab a band and then make are way down either the safer route but slightly longer or the direct downhill which for mountain bikers was apparently classed as a 'black' which means it's challenging so I wasn't taht up for that route if I'm honest. Most had very nice looking bikes which made me slightly nervous as I was expecting the worse on the bike stage which was the bulk really.

10am race started - Running down to the beach out and back more or less. We took an early lead along with 3 or 4 other teams. I felt great - by far the best since the ultra and I think the speed works already started to sharpen me up. Half way and we were pulling away, ended the run in 1st and was leaving transition as the 2nd team came in. Good stage but now was the bike.

Headed off got to traffic lights, which we got told about at the start. They said to make are way to the mountain bike stage we had to do a few miles through the city which ment strict highway code rules or in the organisers words 'this will piss you off but neads to be followed, really'. First set of lights so we waited 3 other teams met us there. Seven of us guys in total and one woman. We all waited except for the woman who said 'F**k this' and literally weaved her way through, jumping off curbs and around cars!! From then on we broke an endless amount of highway code rules and didnt stop on any lights!! This was bonkers!

Kept going and found we were with a couple other teams but leading and we felt good until we got lost big time in the mountains and just couldn't find the final checkpoint. Then navigation was part of the race so tough luck! Got there finally we must have been about 10th then so decided to hit the direct down hill route which was pretty exciting and got to the kayak in about 6th. The sun was beaming by now and to be honest found the kayaking tough work but stayed in it. Ended the whole event in 5th which we were more than happy with but deep down we could ave come close to winning today. Never mind, next time!!

5th place but on the plus side felt good today and enjoyed the event immensly, so roll on the next adventure I say!